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Market Recap 5/20/11

News that IMF director Strauss-Kahn was arrested early in the week on attempted sexual assault charges came as a shock to the international finance community. As of Friday, he had resigned as the IMF Director, effective immediately. However, serious questions remain as to the full ramifications and impact this may have on the different negotiations he was involved with in abating the European financial crises facing Portugal and Greece.

The stock market has ended the week on a sour note as poor retail data from companies like GAP Inc and Aeropostale each lost more than 14 percent after cutting profit forecasts for the year. They cited higher costs for raw materials and sluggish sales for the change in forecast.

Featured Bullion Product:
Each week, APMEX will review a different bullion product for the benefit of our readers. This week, we will review the Austrian 100 Corona Gold Coins.

Because of the history behind them, the Austrian 100 Corona Gold Coins are some of the most interesting coins in the world. For example, the Austrian 100 Corona Gold Coins were among some of the first Gold bullion coins available upon the enactment of an executive order on December 31, 1974, that re-entitled Americans to own Gold bullion. In addition to their availability at the time of the 1974 order, the Austrian Corona Gold Coins are also fascinating because they are restrikes, which are official reproductions of coins that were originally minted for circulation. Issued from 1908 to 1914, the Austrian 100 Gold Coins first featured their date of issue. However, after the death of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph, the Gold coins were produced as commemorative pieces and were dated 1915.

Minted in Vienna Austria, the Austrian 100 Corona Gold Coin is .900 fine Gold (21.6-karat Gold) and contains 0.9802 troy ounces of Gold. Designed by Stephan Schwartz, the Austrian 100 Corona Gold Coin pays tribute to Austrian nationalism and pride. The obverse of the Austrian Corona Gold Coin displays a portrait of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I, who ruled from 1848 to 1916. The reverse features the Austrian Coat of Arms, depicting a double eagle and a crown. Moreover, the edges of the Austrian 100 Corona Gold Coins include the lettering Vnitus Viribvs, which means “the unified strength,” a well-known motto attributed to Franz Joseph I. No longer minted, the Austrian 100 Corona Gold Coins are some of the lowest-premium Gold bullion coins available on the world coin market. Appealing to both collectors and investors alike, the Austrian 100 Corona Gold Coins have begun to attract attention for both their unique history and low premium Gold status.